Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 228 I Have a Brilliant Plan [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

"Fifty taels of silver?!"

This is an enormous sum for ordinary people, and it is also an irresistible amount for lazy scoundrels who live off "lucky money."

Even the dozen or so minor leaders among this group felt a tremor in their hearts at that moment.

After all, the important figure from Datong who had invited them to a banquet a few days ago to give them a reward of ten taels of silver when he handed over the task to them.

Perhaps some people are greedy and, seeing Yan Maoqing's straightforwardness, thought he was weak and easy to bully, wondering if they could bargain with him and maybe even get more.

But this group of people is not a well-organized group.

With a dozen or so leaders, there are a dozen or so independent gangs, making it impossible for them to advance or retreat together.

Therefore, no sooner had Yan Maoqing finished speaking than some people, unable to resist the temptation, quickly stepped out from the crowd:

"Me! I led about a hundred brothers!"

"And me! I also have a hundred or so brothers, just as many as him!"

"Me too……"

Amidst a commotion, seven or eight people rushed to the front of the formation. Some licked their lips, while others rubbed their hands together like flies, their eyes filled with greed, afraid that they would miss out on Yan Maoqing's reward if they were a step too late.

They had naturally witnessed the discipline and military bearing of the Hero Battalion, and were just as intimidated as the bald man.

However, having been guided by the "big shot," they believed they understood the implications and were convinced that Yan Maoqing would never dare to act rashly.

The bald man and the remaining leaders who had not yet stepped forward looked at these impatient leaders with disdain, cursing them in their hearts as "shortsighted and unable to afford even four dishes in their entire lives."

In their line of work, what's the point of trying if you can't take advantage of opportunities?

Didn't you hear this guy surnamed Yan say he was "in a hurry"? Since he can give fifty taels right off the bat, it seems that the matter he needs to handle this time is really urgent, and we have him under our control.

Why don't we take advantage of this and use the "delaying" tactic to raise the price further, trying to negotiate towards one hundred taels... no, two hundred taels?

Also, the brothers' reward money is still undecided, so we must discuss that as well.

Are you suggesting we hand over the money we've earned to these people afterward? How much would be left?
at the same time.

"Later, you'll also act as a leader, and we'll get double the money!"

The bald man was quite shrewd; he even whispered something to the dark-skinned man beside him.

Then someone stepped forward from the crowd, not to collect the reward, but to turn around, face the crowd, raise their hands, and shout:

"A mere imperial envoy of the court is only rewarded with fifty taels of silver? Does he think we're all beggars?"

"Brothers, don't you agree?!"

"Yes!!!"

Immediately, many people in the crowd raised their hands and responded loudly, some even holding stones and short sticks.

This can be considered a kind of demonstration. They naturally dared not bring weapons, and they didn't even dare bring farm tools with iron parts. This was also the instruction given by that "big shot" to leave Yan Maoqing no excuse.

Then someone else stood up, turned around, and raised their arms to shout to the crowd:

"Leaving aside the leader's reward for now, we have so many brothers here to welcome the imperial envoy. Surely the imperial envoy can't let his brothers leave empty-handed?"

"Brothers, don't you agree?!"

"Yes!!!"

More people raised their hands and responded loudly, their voices even louder than before.

Such "speaking up for the people" is naturally what those low-level henchmen support the most. Who comes here to block the road if not to extort some money?

"..."

Seeing this bewitched scene, Shen Kun, Gao Gong, Yan Shifan and others were itching with hatred, and even the soldiers of the Heroic Battalion unconsciously clenched their fists.

Even the most obtuse among them now understood the composition of the group in front of them.

Yan Maoqing's characterization of this group as thieves who obstruct official business, bandits who robbed people, and even the White Lotus Sect who harmed the people was entirely accurate.

They're clearly here to extort money!
Moreover, they have become so audacious that they dare to openly extort even imperial envoys, showing no fear whatsoever!
Do they think the self-propelled muskets in their hands are just for show? Do they think their recent months of combat training have been a charade? Do they think their hero battalion is so weak and easily bullied?

If we let these scoundrels succeed today, it won't just be General Yan's people who lose face, nor will it be the people of Lieutenant General Shen and Lieutenant General Gao. It will be the people of the entire Heroic Battalion. They will never be able to hold their heads high again!

General Yan is determined to unleash a massacre today, and he is not leaving any of us to bear the responsibility. Isn't this a sign of his great care for us?
Following such a general on a campaign, wouldn't that be one of the greatest joys in life?
at the same time.

"..."

Shen Kun, Gao Gong, and Yan Shifan exchanged glances, seemingly plotting something in private.

Then Yan Shifan quietly withdrew and summoned the servant who had received them...

Gao Gong also quietly retreated, heading straight towards the war drums that commanded the heroic battalion to advance...

Shen Kun remained where he was, gripping the command sword at his waist tightly...

"Silence!"

Yan Maoqing's smile widened, and the loudspeaker once again drowned out everyone else's voices:
"Fixed price!"

“Each leader will receive two hundred taels of silver. Everyone who came here to welcome me today will also be rewarded with ten taels of silver each. I cannot afford any more than that.”

“If you accept, then start with the leader and quickly step forward to receive your reward.”

"If you don't accept, then there's no need to talk anymore. It's not like I can't lead my troops to take a detour!"

Upon hearing this, the group of lazy scoundrels and rogues burst into laughter from head to toe.

This was simply the most profitable business they had ever done, with no capital required. It was much more lucrative than making money through "lucky money."

Unexpectedly, this imperial envoy is quite straightforward. What else is there to say? Accept the reward!
Having received this reward, we've found a new path to wealth. From now on, we must pay close attention to the imperial envoys and high-ranking officials we encounter.

Whenever someone passes by, how can we not come up with a big fuss and drums to "welcome" them? They're all walking money bags...

As they spoke, many people in the crowd immediately stepped forward, acting as leaders to wait for their rewards.

As the bald man stepped forward, he glanced around and estimated there were at least fifty or sixty people.
"this?!"

When the "big shot" hosted the banquet that day, there were clearly only about a dozen minor leaders present.

Moreover, he had dealt with these petty leaders before; after all, everyone in the underworld eventually needs their own territory.

Only by each person "collecting money for good luck" in their own territory can their own interests be guaranteed. If they pool their resources to extort too much, it would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. In the future, if the host family holds weddings quietly, they will starve.
Now, suddenly fifty or sixty leaders have appeared. It goes without saying how many of them are imposters...

Seeing this, the bald man suddenly felt a pang of regret.

I never imagined that the opportunistic trick I came up with with my clever mind would also be thought of by other leaders.

Damn them! If only I had called a few more people to stand up, I would have suffered a huge loss. I feel so guilty.
at the same time.

Yan Maoqing had already quietly retreated to the side of the heroes' camp, and a loud shout rang out from the megaphone in his hand:
"reward!"

"Shh!"

Shen Kun immediately drew his command sword from his waist:
"attack!"

"Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!..."

A rhythmic drumbeat then rang out, as Gao Gong replaced the drummer and personally took up the hammer to beat the drum.

During training, the Hero Battalion required enemy troops to open fire when they came within thirty paces. At that time, thirty paces was five feet, which, when converted to modern units of length, is close to fifty meters.

At this moment, the fifty or sixty "leaders" were only a dozen steps away from the front of the hero's camp and had long since entered the firing range.

next moment.

"Clang!"

A unified sound rang out, the first rank of musketeers crouched, the second rank of musketeers half-crouched, and the third rank of musketeers stood upright, raising all their self-propelled muskets.

"This is?!"

The bald man and the group of "leaders" who had stepped forward to receive their reward were terrified at the sight and instinctively retreated.

Even a fool would understand what Yan Maoqing meant.
This isn't about giving them money!
Are they going to be forced to eat iron broad beans?!
How dare he?

Isn't he afraid of things getting out of hand, being impeached by his political enemies, bearing a bad reputation, or losing his official position?
Did that "big shot" from Datong deceive us?!

"Boom!"

With a sudden, heavier drumbeat, Shen Kun brought his command sword down.

"boom--!"

Even the firing sounds were perfectly synchronized, though they sounded a bit off-key.

"Run!!!"

"what!!!"

"Ow..."

The bald man and his group of "leaders" turned to run away, and some of them reacted even faster, grabbing the people next to them and using them as shields.

However, no matter how fast they run, how can they outrun a bullet?
In just a moment, most of the fifty or sixty people had fallen in the dense hail of bullets, and blood blossomed in the crowd. Those who were unlucky were hit in vital areas and died on the spot!
The few lucky survivors who were unharmed were now so terrified that their legs went weak, their faces pale as they stared at the bloody scene before them, their pupils trembling uncontrollably, yet they didn't even have the strength to stand up.

"Murder! Murder!"

"Run! Run!"

"Your Excellency, have mercy! I know I was wrong, but I have elderly parents and young children to support..."

"Wow wow-"

Although the henchmen behind them were outside the range of the hero camp's training, a very few unlucky ones were still injured by stray bullets.

For a moment, everyone was panicked and in complete chaos.

Some had already begun to flee in terror, while others collapsed to the ground, trembling all over, their mouths uttering nothing but fearful cries. Still others didn't even have the courage to run away, and immediately knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy...

at the same time.

"kill--!"

Two more cavalry units appeared on their flanks, quickly moving behind the group to encircle them and cutting off their escape route in the blink of an eye.

Is this a case of utter annihilation, leaving no one alive?!

Those henchmen who had tried to escape were terrified. Seeing the gleaming weapons in the cavalrymen's hands, they hurriedly stopped and dared not move forward an inch.

Just at this time.

"Dong dong!"

As the second batch of musketeers took their turn, Gao Gong's drumming suddenly stopped.

Shen Kun did not raise his command sword again.

"?"

Yan Maoqing and the musketeers advancing with the sound of drums couldn't help but feel puzzled and looked at Shen Kun and Gao Gong.

Yan Shifan then rushed up with his servants at the opportune moment:
"Uncle-in-law, wait a minute, I have a brilliant plan..."

(End of this chapter)